Thanks, y’all.
Thanks to everybody for all their kind words and commiseration. I feel kinda like I did a few years ago when I had several interviews at Kazaa and then they didn’t hire me. I rated that as my biggest disappointment of 2003. (Of course, they got raided by the copyright police a few months later, which helped to take the sting out.) A lot of people have been telling me today that this is some sort of sign, that I wasn’t meant to be at Google right now, that something better is on the horizon. And much as I’d like to believe that, in the harsh light of day I don’t really think there are any greater forces at work. It just didn’t happen. They didn’t need/want me right now. And that’s disappointing, yeah… but I also find myself being grateful for all the stuff I do have. We are buying an amazing house (I still have to tell you guys that whole story). I’m still working with people I care about in a business I want to succeed. I’ve got a great partner who supports me no matter what. I’m just going to try to remember these things.

Oh, and I did get a completely unexpected pick-me-up. I was idly trawling the Ravelry forums last night searching for mentions of the shop when i came across the following exchange from about a month ago. (“LYS” means “local yarn store.”)

palopinto: It makes me sad to see so many people who have had so many bad experiences in their LYS – I just wanted to share the love for my favorite shop.

I live in Brisbane, and our choices are extremely limited here. I don’t like buying yarn online, unfondled, because I like to feel stuff before I decide if it’s right for me.

Every time I travel to Sydney, I go to a particular yarn store in the city which has always, ALWAYS been amazing. The selection is great, the ambience is great, the staff are wonderful, and I love it there. They also sell online, which is awesome for needles and the WhatNot(tm) that every knitter needs.

I was in there yesterday, looking for yarn to make the mitred-squares shawl, and the chick in the shop (who had amazing hair and, strangely enough, was a fellow North American), was so helpful and friendly. She recognised my clappy, we chatted, I purchased, and it was all gold.

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Camee: I think you’re talking Tapestry Craft, and I have a strange feeling the chick in the shop is also on ravelry 😉 . Was she blonde?

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palopinto: You’re right about the store – how great is that place! The girl had brownish hair with pink and lavender-looking foils through it – so awesome 😉

HOW NICE IS THAT? It’s not often you get to overhear complete strangers saying that A) you’re good at your job and B) your hair looks “amazing.” That cheered me right up! 🙂